Atlantis

Discover Another Country:

Find a community:

The community of Atlantis is graduating

Coronavirus (COVID-19) impact on World Vision operations

In support of public health recommendations outlined by the World Health Organization, some sponsorship program activities have been temporarily suspended due to COVID-19. Activities may include sponsor queries and correspondence, sponsor visits, gift notifications and gift deliveries. These temporary suspensions may affect the information you receive from us in the coming weeks and months. Learn more about our response to COVID-19.

Atlantis’s community is making strong progress toward caring for all its children, not just those who are sponsored. They are now transitioning to self-sufficiency. Together with other Canadians, you’ve played an important part in helping Atlantis get there. Thank you!

With the help of your generous and loving support, life in Atlantis has transformed. Children and families are much stronger now. The community has met its goals, and its members are working together to tackles new ones. Your support will have a lasting impact for years to come.

The semi-urban community of Atlantis is located 45 kilometres from Cape Town. The community was named Atlantis because the Atlantic seaboard provides a scenic background.

Homes in Atlantis are constructed from brick, cement, or wood. However, the poorest families live in a shantytown, sleeping in unstable dwellings made of wood, corrugated iron, or plastic. Summers are long and dry, and winters bring little rain, so homes are vulnerable to fire, threatening children's safety and security. One third of the population lacks an adequate food supply, and many families go entire days without eating a healthy meal.

During South Africa's former apartheid regime, Atlantis was the target of an economic plan called Industrial Decentralisation Policy, where people of mixed race (black and white) were uprooted from their homes and relocated to Atlantis. The community became an industrial centre as companies responded to economic incentives to move there.

However, in the 1990s, incentives began to dry up and many businesses pulled out or collapsed, eventually plunging the community into unemployment and poverty. The search for jobs was futile, and many people did not know where their next meal was coming from. Disillusionment and hopelessness set in, giving way to alcoholism, drug abuse, gang activity, and crime.

People in Atlantis are celebrating that they are now empowered to move forward without World Vision’s presence. Here are some of the accomplishments:

Child Protection

30 mothers and fathers learned about children's rights and safety, helping more boys and girls grow up in a safer family environment.

39 women and men learned about child safety and protection issues, helping to change attitudes and behaviours to better protect girls and boys.

1 capacity building event conducted with identified partners

30 parents attended training to learn how to discipline their children without physical violence, so more girls and boys are safer from abuse.

Community Development

200 children participated in and benefited from community development programs

Faith

5 meetings were conducted with faith-based organizations

*Results achieved from October 2018 to September 2019

Explore Atlantis

current conditions

To protect the privacy of children, this map shows only the general area of the community, not the exact location.

WORLD VISION and Beacon Logo TMs of World Vision International. Lic’d use. All other TMs either owned by World Vision Canada or Lic’d from applicable TM owner. The Standards Program Trustmark is a mark of Imagine Canada used under licence by World Vision Canada.

Charitable Registration Number: 119304855RR0001All eligible charitable donations to World Vision Canada are entitled to an official tax receipt.